ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1929
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1929
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From: "Sara L Friedemann"
21 Jan 2000
Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!
You wanted to know if would be an authentic name for a
Frenchman living between 1350 and 1400. If that wasn't correct, you asked
about . Here is a brief letter with the information
we have found.
Both choices for your husband's name are perfect. was widely used
in France throughout his period; we found examples of it in Paris in 1292,
Picardy in the 15th century, and Normandy in the 16th century. [1,2,3]
Old French meant "forest-keeper, forest official." Although we
didn't find a period example of the byname in France, we can
safely assume that it was used: not only does it survive in the modern
surname , but it appears in England in the Anglo-Norman forms
1279 and 1327. [4,5,6] The spelling
is appropriate for your period.
We find examples of in England in the Anglo-Norman forms 1084 and c.1150. These probably meant "from La
Riviere," referring to a place called , not "from the river." [4]
Old French meant "riverbank, shore," or "region by the banks of a
river." [5,6] The spelling , without the preposition, is found as
a surname in Normandy in the 16th century. [3]
We hope that this brief letter has been useful to you, and that you will not
hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further
questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan
Gwynek, Maridonna Benvenuti, Amant le Marinier, and Arval Benicoeur.
For the Academy,
~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, January 21, 2000
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References:
[1] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris",
Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery,
Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997)
[URL:http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html].
[2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de
personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de
Picardie, 1967).
[3] Cateline de la Mor, "Sixteenth Century Norman Names" (SCA: KWHS
Proceedings, 1994; WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997)
[URL:http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/cateline/norman16.html].
[4] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_
(London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.nn. Rivers,
Varder
[5] Greimas, Algirdas Julien, _Dictionnaire de l'ancien franc,ais_ (Paris:
Larousse, 1997). s.v. rive, verde
[6] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et
Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987). s.n. Rivier, Verdier